not 9/11, i think katrina was the biggest, but the second biggest in the last four years was that event in terms of consumer confidence dropping. government, i think government right now, frankly, has been part of the problem, not part of the solution. it needs to provide, and, you know, almost regardless of what it does, it needs to provide some certainty and predictable to businesses and consumers so that they will function better and we will have a more productive economy. >> okay. so, heidi, steve has provided a very nice lead-in to bringing you into the conversation, and he said, you know, look, the u.s., the strength of the u.s. domestic economy, sorting out the fiscal situation is important not just for the u.s. and the world economy, but for the u.s. and the world full stop. >> right. >> you work at the state d., -- department, but you're the chief economist. what do you do? >> now they're laughing at her. [laughter] >> well, the role of the chief economist largely came out of a -- >> louder. >> your mic's not transmitting. >> keep on talking and -- >> the idea to create the ide